WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 282

Relates to the public release of ballot images

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 2 co-sponsors

Massachusetts massage therapists must complete 20 hours of CE every two years, including in-person ethics and live-delivered content, to renew licenses.

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 282

Summary — S.282 (2025): Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Massage Therapists

Status: Introduced January 28, 2025; Passed Senate without amendment by voice vote (June 18, 2025); Received in House (June 23, 2025); referred/held at desk as noted in legislative actions.

Purpose
- Establishes a mandatory continuing education (CE) requirement for licensed massage therapists in Massachusetts as a condition of license renewal, and sets standards for course content, delivery, recordkeeping, and renewal timing.

Key provisions
- CE hours and cycle
- Require 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
- Licenses expire on November 30 of even-numbered years (i.e., biennial renewal deadline).
- Failure to meet CE or attestation requirements by the renewal deadline results in nonrenewal until compliance is shown.

  • Required content and delivery

    • At least 2 hours on ethics in massage therapy, completed in person.
    • At least 1 hour on Massachusetts massage therapy laws and rules; may be completed online or in person.
    • Up to 6 hours may be completed online or through home study.
    • Remaining CE hours must be completed in person through live classes or webinars (text specifies “in person through live classes or webinars”).

  • Course approval and providers

    • CE courses must be either: (i) approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB); or (ii) offered by a provider approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy.

  • Documentation, attestation, and certifications

    • Licensees must retain CE documentation for at least four years and provide it to the Board upon request.
    • At renewal, therapists must attest they completed required CE and hold current CPR and AED certification.

Who would be affected
- Primary: All licensed massage therapists in Massachusetts (current and future licensees subject to renewal).
- Secondary: CE providers (must obtain NCBTMB or state Board approval), employers/clinics that support training, the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy (administration, verification, enforcement), and consumers (potentially benefit from standardized competency/ethics training).

Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced by Senator Jacob R. Oliveira (bill text as filed 1/17/2025; introduced 1/28/2025).
- Referred to various committees per record (Energy & Natural Resources; Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure) and scheduled hearing (listed 06/02/2025); passed the Senate 06/18/2025 and transmitted to the House 06/23/2025.
- Related measures and prior-session bills are listed (e.g., SD 2457, S 1653, A 1581 companion).

Potential impacts and considerations
- Administrative: Board will need processes for verifying CE compliance, approving providers/courses, and enforcing nonrenewal.
- Financial/time: Therapists may incur costs and time for in-person CE and CPR/AED recertification; employers may need to accommodate training.
- Clarifications needed: Text refers to “in person through live classes or webinars,” which may require interpretation about whether live webinars qualify as “in person.” The bill ties renewal cycles to even-year November 30 expirations.

This summary reflects the bill text and legislative actions provided.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.